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Christmas Holiday Walking Tour in NYC

Join us for this sparkling and inspiring tour of Christmas - Gothamtide in New York! Look, learn and have fun.
New York City is the Christmas Capitol - take in glittering lights and trees, enchanting displays and abundant entertainment. The tour is led by the renowned Christmas and Rockefeller Center Historian Sibyl McCormac Groff, who has studied the history of Christmas and the importance of New York in developing our holiday traditions. She created the word "Gothamtide" to reflect the secular and universal aspects of Christmas, which did not become a legal holiday in America until 1870. For over 25 years this author has led tours and given lectures.

This year the starting point has changed to the elegant Le Parker Meridien Hotel lobby on West 56th Street just west of 6th Avenue. What a feast for the eyes is the hotel's 6th Annual Gingerbread Extravaganza crafted by bakeries and pastry chefs. You can even vote for your favorite New York-themed creation.

The tour will walk to Fifth Avenue and then strut down the avenue and environs ending at the most famous Christmas tree - the 81st Rockefeller Center tree between 49th and 50th Street in the plaza off Fifth Avenue (the tree is officially lit on December 3).

As we walk you will hear about New York's Christmas traditions "all around the town" and look up at the illuminated interesting buildings!

Note that the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is lit on December 3 and the Gingerbread Houses at Le Parker Meridien will be displayed beginning December 5th.

Please enter at the entrance graced with the Gingerbread houses closest to 6th Avenue. The next entrance is to the main Hotel lobby.

Since New York City is in a construction boom some former holiday events or displays may not be up or there may be new things added this year.

More information about Gothamtide happenings will be given out in print or online.

Tour HighlightsPurchase This TourYour Tour GuideTour DetailsReviews

Price:TBA

Christmas Holiday Walking Tour Highlights:
As we walk you will hear about New York's Christmas traditions "all around the town" and look up at the illuminated interesting buildings!

Some highlights include seeing and/or learning about

The development of the Christmas tree, lights, cards, gifts and entertainment

at 57th St. and 5th the giant, glittering UNICEF snowflake with its 16000 Baccarat crystals being a beacon of hope, peace and compassion

beautiful trees at the Metropolitan Museum, American Museum of Natural History, the New York Stock Exchange

ending at the inspiring 82nd Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

As your Christmas guide has received the first pine cone from the tree and loves it, you will hear about some illuminating stories about how the trees are found, its donors, where the original tree stood and wonderful accounts. Last year's tree was about 76' feet high and 45' wide with over 45,000 lights and the Swarovski crystal snowflake on top!
Some merry makers come every year to look up and be inspired by the tree!

The Christmas Holiday Walking Tour operates Fridays and Saturdays at 5pm from November 28 through December 20, 2014 plus December 24 and December 25 at 5pm. To reserve your spot on this popular tour, simply click on the ADD TO CART button.

You will have to print out your tour voucher upon completion of your purchase. The tour voucher will contain all pertinent information necessary, including the address of the tour's starting location.

Noted Christmas Historian Sibyl McCormac Groff, the "Spirited New Yorker", has been conducting tours in New York City for over 25 years - yet her energy level has always been a source of amazement with her tour participants.

Photo at left: Sibyl in front of the best animated exhibit in New York - The Bear's Christmas

Sibyl has been featured on Brian Williams and NBC Nightly TV News with Mike Taibbi, and has received the Presidential Award from the Victorian Society in America. She is a renowned historian and is a true expert on the history of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

She has had articles published in Antiques magazine and has also published several books on historic buildings.

Photo at left: The Ambassador of Rockefeller Center, CJ, presents his favorite tour guide and admirer of Christmas the first pine cone from the 80th Rockefeller Center Tree.

Price:TBA

Tour ScheduleNovember 28 through December 20, 2014 - Fridays and Saturdays at 5pm PLUS Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at 5pm.

Documents You must print your tour voucher at the conclusion of your transaction. Please make sure you add nyctrip.com and NYCVPTours@nyctrip.com into your list of mailers from whom you can receive email.Location and DirectionsTours depart from Le Parker Meridien Hotel - 56th street entrance closest to 6th Ave.

Subway:

F train to 57th and 6th Ave

NOTE: Tour guide gratuity is not included. New York City Vacation Packages is not responsible for delays, non-operation of tour or accessibility to sites mentioned in the itinerary. Itinerary may be altered if required due to weather, traffic, and/or any other condition beyond the control of NYCVP, the tour guides and/or vendors. Tours may be cancelled in advance due to insufficient participation. Anyone not able to keep up with a normal and reasonable walking tour pace, or anyone getting lost, will be on their own. Liability is expressly limited to the amount paid by patrons for the Tour. The tour operates "rain or shine." No refunds are issued for no-shows or cancellations.

"Can I just say how much we all enjoyed the Christmas holiday walking tour with Sybil on December 2nd at 5.30pm, we were the 4 ladies from Yorkshire, England and it was a great walking tour, we saw so much that we would have missed without Sybil's knowledge, she really did a great job, hopefully we will be back again next year and look forward to meeting her again on another tour, once again thanks for a great night." Jane, Elsi, Sylvia and Pat

"You definitely made the SPIRIT OF THE SEASON come alive for our family!...You are an awesome tour guide. You provided everything so vividly." Family – Louisiana

"Christmas in New York is not Christmas without going on Sibyl’s festive tour""Having given and attended many tours in my 15-year museum career, it was obvious to me Sibyl has mastered the ability to engage and inform any tour that comes along. She is uniquely able to bring architecture, art, history and Christmas to life!"
MA Candidate, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum